School board and state reps talk CRCT results, late registration

The Dougherty County School Board met Monday with state representatives and discussed several local issues, including the CRCT investigation results. The investigation looked into questionable erasure marks on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.

"I think we're going to have some 40 educators and some seven to nine administrators that they are going to make accusations against," says School Board Chairman Rev. James Bush.

But Bush sees this as an opportunity.

"I'm not going to sit around to observe the deterioration of our school system. We've got to restore credibility. Period."

Couple investigation results with recent allegations of a school principle and a school board member falsifying information to get their child free or reduced lunches, and Bush says they've got some work to do. He called for someone on the federal level to investigate.

"Someone who has maybe been an FBI agent or secret service agent who have dealt with this type issues."

Representative Ed Rynders agrees that the school board does need to build credibility, but is not sure about a federal investigator.

"Certainly if the locals do an investigation of their own, there's going to be an issue in regards to, is it the proverbial wolf guarding the hen house. What role should the state or the feds play? I think right now it's a little early to make that call," says Rynders.

Another issue brought up Monday morning was how to get students into class who don't come to class until after Labor Day. When asked if Dr. Joshua Murfree would consider penalizing those families by taking away some of their entitlements, Dr. Murfree said no.

Over 50% of student's families fall under the poverty line. And reducing things like social services, he says, is not the answer.

"Once you start taking away some of those entitlements, it's going to impact those babies and children that live in those homes," says Murfree.

Also on Murfree's wish list is raising the minimum drop out age to 17, making the 10th grade mandatory.

"Because I know once people finish the 10th grade they are more apt, if you will, to finish high school. We need an educated Georgia," adds Murfree.